Kildare woman steps out of comfort zone for Ms Bikini Ireland final 

IMAGINE you’re a young woman who has suffered with social anxiety for as long as you can remember – so much so, it took you three extra years to graduate DCU because of so many absences.

So, in order to confront this finally and full on, you decide to walk on stage in a bikini in a room full of strangers and accept their judgement.

This is the brave, admirable story of Guste Kasetaite (25) from Kildare town who is the county’s representative in Ms Bikini Ireland on 21 June.

“I grew up in Dublin but I’ve been in Kildare town for six years now,” said Guste.

“I had worked part-time in Kildare Village while finishing college, but it’s full-time now for the summer, and I’ve finally graduated this year from DCU in Applied Languages and Translation Services,” she said proudly.

“I had suffered social anxiety for as long as I can remember, and going into college I realise how much it was stopping from going out, getting paranoid, afraid to go to the shops even.

“That’s why I’m 25 and only graduating now, because I had to take three years out of college because of it.

“This year I decided to grab the bull by the horns, decided 2026 would be the year I do all the things that frighten me, so I entered Ms Bikini Ireland, got engaged (to Matthew) and I’ve started learning to drive … my parents are over the moon! she laughed.

So how did she get involved in the contest, the Kildare Nationalist asked.

“I had a girl on Instagram who had entered and it looked so glamorous, so I decided to enter and it just sort of went from there,” she said.

“I entered in January and they accepted me in February, and they started doing workshops where they take professional shots of you in a bikini.

“The competition final is on 21 June at a venue yet to be announced with a total of 40 finalists.

“The workshops leading up to this include runway walking, social media advice, learning about taking photos and videos, as well as fitness advice in the gym,” she revealed.

And how do you deal with your anxieties now?

“I take deep breaths before doing new things now,” she said.

“Since this I’ve been discovered by photographers and have begun doing some modelling, so my social anxiety is at an all-time low.

“Last week in the good weather we did a photoshoot on a beach, and the plan is to continue with the modelling for now, and hopefully someday walk a runway, or appear in a magazine. That’s my dream,” said Guste.

And your advice to others?

“My advice is don’t be afraid to come out of your comfort zone, and don’t be afraid to try new things because the outcome can be amazing."